Lubricating apparatus



Feb. 12, 1935. A', p, FOX 1,990,986

LUBRICATING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 6, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 12, 1935. A. P, Fox

LUBRICATING APPARATUS 3 She-ets-Sheet 2- Filed Aug. 6, 1932 Feb. 12, 1935. A. P. Fox

LUBRICATING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 6, 1932 Patented Feb. 112, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT 'orFmE .16 Claims. (Cl. 18d- 7) This invention relates -to lubricating apparatus, and with regard -to certain more specific features, to lubricating apparatus operable f to distribute alternately to two or more pipes, under pressure, quantities of lubricants `or the like, such as grease.

The invention is an improvement upon the pressure alternating means described vin Patent 1,805,303, issued to Frank S. Barks, dated May Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision of apparatus lof the class described which is self-'actuating -to effect complete cycles of operation and then to stop until otherwise energized; apparatus which is easily and readily regulable to supply grease at,

the various outlets, alternatingly, and at various pressures; apparatus of the class described which embodies means for ltering or freeing the lubricant of undesirable foreign material; apparatus of the class described which provides means for feeding back, or relieving, excesspressure in grease lines beyond itself; l and the provision of apparatus of the class described which is relatively simple .in construction and :operation. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises Athe elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts-,Which Wl be exemplied in the structures hereinafterV described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims. in the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated one of various possible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. l is a top plan viewA of a device embodyin the present invention; Y

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the device of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

4 is a vertical cross section taken substantially on line 4--4 of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal cross section 'taken substantiaily on line 5-5 of Fig. 2; Y

Fig. 6 is a working diagram of parts required for an understanding of the invention; and,

7 is another working diagram showing various elements separated for clarity, minor elements being omitted for like reasons.

vSimilar reference characters indicate ycorresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings. Y I

In said Frank 8. Barks `Patent No. 1,805,303,

dated May 12,' 1931, is shown a lubricant distributing system, comprising, generally, a sourcev of lubricant under pressure, `a pair of lubricant vde livery lines, and alternator means interposed between the source and the delivery lines alternatingly delivering the lubricant Ato each of said lines. The alternator means of said patent .are shown particularly in Figs. 5 to 7 and 11 to 14. While such alternator means are satisfactoryl in operation, they require several individually operating mechanisms. The present invention supplies an alternator,v having the same general functions as the alternating means of said -patent, but having addedrfunctions and being simplined in both construction and operation, and being y,more reliable.

Broadly, the present device comprises an inlet line 23 delivering grease to the inlet connector 7 of an alternator as a Whole, there being Within the alternator a directingl valve 75 which directs fl'uid'into one or the other ofthe outlet lines .9 and 11. These lines 9 and 11 correspond to similarlines in said Patent 1,805,303.l From these lines-the grease is measured out in predetermined quantities Vby suitable measuring distributing valves shown in said Patent 1,805,303. i

Each line 9 and llis provided with a pressure regulating resistance valve 5 operated by fluid, from the respective line 9 or 11. The regulating means permits the pressure in its respective .line to build up to a lpredetermined maximum, and the fluid which operates the regulating means is shunted fromthe line under pressure to operate said directing means 7 5 to redirect uid into the other line-The line which is not in communie cation with the inlet 7 is exhausted to the supply by directing means 75, whereby the back Apressure of fluid inY that line isA relieved. Also, means is provided whereby the fluidused for operating the directing means is relieved of pressure .and redelivered to the supply after it has ceased its function of shifting the directing means.

The part of the circuit connected with the above outlined device is shown in Figs. 6 vand 7- wherein said inlet line 23 is shown as lbeing maintained 'under pressure by a pump P actuated by an'electric motor M through a suitable speed i the present invention, the same being reserved for another'disclosure.

The maximum pressure which may be attained in either of the lines 9 or l1 is regulable at the pressure regulating` devices 5.

The separate engine for performing the function ofjalternating, shown in said patent, is eliminated herein.

With the above .broad description in mind, the details of the apparatus will be set forth.

Referring to the drawings, numeral 1 (Figs. 1, 2 and 7) indicates a rectangularblock or body, made preferably of a steel suitable to safely withstand the pressures herein employed. 'Pro-` jecting from the top of block 1 are, first, a filter cap 3, and, second, a pair of adjusting columns 5. On the back face of block 1 a lubricant inlet connection 7 is provided. From the front face of block 1 project a pair of lubricant outlets 9 and 11. On each side face of block 1 is a plug 13, while the right side face of the block has an exhaust line 15 leading therefrom. From the bottom of block 1 project,'first, a pair of locking caps '17 corresponding in position to the adjusting co1- umns second, a-line 19 leading Vto said pressureelectric switch W; and, third, a delivery line 21 leading to a suitable pressure gauge (not shown).

Referring now more Aparticularly to Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 7, the lubricant inlet connection 7 will be seen tov comprise a pipe 23, which conducts lubricant from the pump or other pressuresupplying means. The pipe 23 is threaded at its end into a saddle member 25which completely encloses and embraces a T-shaped member 27. The memasv . T member 27, and the body 1.

ber 27 is `provided with a longitudinal bore 29 and a cross bore 31, and is threaded at its end 33 to a suitable opening in the body 1. Gaskets 35 seal the joint between the saddle member 25, the

TheV arrangement is such that the pipe 23 and saddle 25 may swivel to position on the member 27 before tightening.V Y

Extending from the inlet connection 7 in the body 1 isa bore 37, which is restricted in diamcounterbore 51.

.eter as at numeral 39. The bore 39 conducts vbore 41 hereinbeforeV referred to. From Vthe central bore ,55, radial outlets 57 lead tothe member 53 is provided with a series of projecting rings or anges 59, which rings 59 are slightly smaller in diameter thanthe inner diameter of the bore 51, thus leaving narrow annular spaces 61 between said rings 59 and the walls of the cap 43.

Acounterbore 63 in the block 1 forms an extension of the bore 51 in the cap 3. Leading from the front lower edge of the bore 63 is a passage or bore 65. The bore 65 connects the lter arrangement with a cross bore 67, extending the entire Width of the block 1. 'I'he bore 671s illustrated moreV completely in Fig. 5. Each end of the bore 67 is provided with a counterbored4 portion 69, which isthreaded to receive plugs 13. Each plug 13 is provided Vwith an extending stop portion 71 having a notch 73 therein. Y'

Thelower portion of the filterk Sliding in bore 67, with a relatively close t, is a piston valve member 75. The piston member 75 is of generally cylindrical shape, but has peripheral notches 77, 79, and 81 therein. The notches 77 and 81 are of substantially the same width, and relatively narrower'V than the notch 79. The bore 65, which does not show in Fig. 5, enters the top half of bore 67 at substantially the middle ofr the block, and is so positioned as always to be juxtaposed to the notch 79.

Still referring to Fig. 5, it will be seen that bores or passages 83, 85, 87 and 89 extend forwardly from the cross bore 67 to the outlets 9 and 11. The bores 83 and 85 terminate in a single bore 91 which is threaded to receive a connecting nipple 92. i. The outlet pipe 9 Vis similarly threadedv in nipple 92. Agasket 96 seals the. nipple 92 to the block 1. A similar arrangement is provided for the passages 87 andY 89, to connect them with the outlet pipe 1 1. y A Y Y Also communicating with-the bores 91 are vertical bores or passages v93, each of which in turn' connects with a horizontal bore 95. The bores 95-extend inwardly from the opposite sides of the block l, and are closed at their ends by suitable plugs 98.

1 Referring now more particularly to Fig. 3, it will be seen that each bore 95 intersects, a bore 97 on the under side of the block 1. The bores 97 are threaded to receive plugs 99, which are locked in position by the outer caps 17. Gaskets 101 seal the caps 17 to the block 1. Extending upwardly from the bore 97 is a bore 103 of smaller diameter. The bore 103 connects the bore 97 with a series of counterbores 105 and 107 made fromthe top of the block 1,'of increasing diameter. l The top counterbore 107 is threaded to receive a plug 109. The plug 109 in turn has an upper counterbore 111 threaded to receive they lower end of an adjusting column'113. 'I'he column 113 is hollow, and threaded at its upper end to receive a plug 115. The assembly 109, 113,-and 115 constitutes the exterior portion ofthe adjusting columns 5 hereinbefore referred to.

Extending slidably through a bore 117 in a plug 115, and a central bore 119 in the plug 109, is a vertical pin 121. The pin 121 extends at 123 from the column. At the lower end of the hollow column 5, the pin 121 is provided with an annular shoulder 125. A compression spring 127 ,is mounted within the hollow column 113, and reacts at one end upon the shoulder 125, and at the other end upon the upper face of the plug 115.

Below the shoulder 125, the pin 121 is reduced in diameter, to pass through the central bore 119 of the plug 109. Below the plug 109, it is provided with an: annular recess indicated at Vriumeral 128. It is also reduced in diameter at its lower end 129. Said lower end 129 carries thereon a valve closure element 131 of relatively small projected pressurearea. The valve closure element 131, as will be seen in Fig. 5, is exteriorly square or otherwise polygonal, but of such size' opening 135 drilled into the plug 99. A gasket The section shown in Fig.

139 seals the upper end of `plug V99. A number of radial openings 141 are provided in the plug 99, said radial openings 141 connecting the central bore to the counterbore 97, and thence to the lubricant inlet passage95.

In the upper counterbores 105 and 107 is mounted a generally cylindrical element 143 which is an extension of the member 109. The element 143 is provided with a .suitable central opening 145 to pass the pin 119. The lower portion oi the element y143 is oi considerably less diameter than the counterbore 105, and hence leaves an annular space 147 therearound. Vertically spaced bores 149 and 151 connect'the central bore 145 to the annular-space 147. Radial passages 153 at the upper endof the element 143 similarly connect the bor-e 145 to the annular space provided in the upper counterbore 107.

In normal assembly of the device, a slight space is left between the lower edge of the element 143 and the shoulder of thev counterbore 105, as indicated at numeral 155. The spacev 155 is secured by the engagement of the upper portion of the element 143 with a shoulder 157 formed by a short counterbore in the oounterbore 107.

A diagonal bore 159 connects the lower portion of the counterbore 105 withv the central longitudinal bore 67. Another diagonal bore or passage 161 connects the lower'edge of the counterbore 107 to a. horizontal bore 163 (Fig.v 5), and a continuing diagonal bore 165. The horizontal bore 163 is drilled inwardly from theside of the block 1, and is provided at its inner end Vwith a conical portion 167, upon which a ball 169 seats. A bore 171 of restricted diameter continues the bore or passage 163 to the point where it engages a Vertical bore 173. The vertical bore 173 is drilled upwardly from the bottom of the block, and suitably threaded at its lower end to receive the pipe 19, by which it is connected toa suitable pressure-operated switch for closing oi the source of pressure of the lubricant at the inlet 7. Also connected to the vertical boreY 173 is a continuation 175 of the borev 83 (Fig. 5). y

The outer end of horizontal bore`163 is closed by a plug 177, which has an inwardly extending pin 179 acting as a stop member to prevent the ball 169 from unseating to a too great extent (Fig. 5) der back pressure on the downstreamside, but it is to be understood that a spring reseating means may also be employed, if desired. In Fig. 7 the pin 179 is simpliied for diagrammatic purposes.

The arrangement of the elements in the bore 163 as thus described is desirably provided only on one side of the block. As shown in Fig. 5, it will be seen that at the other side of the block the corresponding bore 164 contains no ball or ball seat, but comprises a simple bore closed by a plug 181.

The respective slanting bores 165, for the two sides of the device, connect with horizontal bores or passages 183 (Figs. 3 and 5) drilled in from the back of the block 1. Concentric with the bores 183 are enlarged counterbores 185 suitably threaded to receive plugs 187. Seating on the shoulder between the bore 183 and counterbore 185 is a disc 189, which is held in position by a compression spring 191 in turn held in a counterbore 193 in the plug 187. The discs 189, and assembly therewith, constitute check valves.

A horizontal bore 195 (Fig. 5) connects the two counterbores 185, and continues to the righthand side of the block 1, where it is threaded to receive pipe 15. Pipe 15 is -a-V lubricant exhaust The ball 169 automatically reseats'uned the pipe 21, which pipe 21 leads to the suitable.

pressure gauge (not shown).

Threaded bores 199 (Figs. 4 and 5) are provided in the block 1 for receivingsuitable mounting studs.

The device operates in detail as follows:

Lubricant, vsuch as grease, or like material,

enters under considerable pressure through the" inlet 7 (Fig. 3), the motor M and pump P building up this pressure while they are running. The grease under pressure passes through bores 37, 39, and 41, and into the filter 3. Rising in the central bore 55, it is forced outwardly through the openings 57 into theannular region 51 (Fig. 4). Under the pressure of the grease behind, it is now forced downwardly past the iianges'59, through the relatively narrow peripheral passages 61. The passages 61 are too narrow to permit any foreign matter, such as flakes of rust or the like, to follow the grease. YFrom time to time the cap 43 and element`53 may be removed from the block 1 to clean away the accumulated foreign matter. tne annular region 63 (see also Fig. 7). In Fig. 7 the dark stippling indicates high pressure grease, whereas light stippling indicates grease under a lower pressure.

From the region 63, the grease passes through passage 65 to the central, main bore 67 (Fig. 5). Depending now upon the position of the piston element 75 (see Fig. 5),v which determines thev position of groove 79, the grease passes, by way of said groove 79, to either the passage 85 or the passage 87. For the present, the grease will be considered as passing, in the arrangement shown in Fig. 5, to the passage 87. The passage 87 conducts the grease to outlet pipe l1. It will be assumed that the pipe 11, and devices subsequent thereto, are already lled with grease, so that'pressure is promptly built up in line 11. This pressure forces some of the grease out through the res eotive passage 93, from whence it is forced through the respective passage 95 to the space provided by oounterbore 97. Here it is stopped by the valve element 131. The pressure of Vgrease builds up until it is great enough to unseat the valve element 131 against spring 127, which has been set at a predetermined pressure by manipulation of plug 115. Unseating of the valve element 131 moves pin 121, and hencegives a visible signal at the exterior of the device when the alternation takes place.

Having unseated valve element 131, the grease passes into bore 103. After unseating, the area pressed against by the grease is increased.

Hence with the small projected area at 137 when the valve 131 is closed, a relatively small spring 127 may be adapted to maintain closure against Next, the filtered grease reaches v the position shown in Fig. 5.

bore 67, but in this c'ase at the end of said bore (see Fig. 5) in the region of the counterbore 69. As the grease nlls the Vcounterbore 69, it exerts ak pressure upon the end of piston element .75, and .ultimately drives said piston (to the left, Fig. 5) tothe other end of the bore 67, the piston element thus assuming the position shown in Fig. 7.V This change Yof'position of the piston 75 changes the notch 79 to the extent that lubricant is now directed into line 85 and pipe 9, instead of into line 87'and pipe 11.

The pressure in line 9 Vis communicated to the respective opening'93` and from thence to the respective'valve 131 to lift the same and to cause delivery of a charge to the opposite end of the piston valve 75, thus returning the same to.

The return causes the groove 77 to be alined with the passage 83 so Athat pressure is relieved inthe pipe 9 through the check valves l169 and 189 to the return pipe 15. At the same time the surge engendered as this high pressure is relieved is not instantaneously dissipated, because of friction in the lines and the resistance of check valves 169 and 183 at the left in Fig. 5. Hence an instantaneous pressure occurs in the branch line 173 Vwhich leads to the switch WY by way of lineY 19. This causes opening of the switch and cutting out of the motor M withV consequent stoppage of the pump P. It `will thus'be seen that the apparatus has made a complete cycle of operation and then is automatically cut outV of operation by its ownY functions.

The surge above through the check valves 169k and 183 shortly after occurring; This causes a reclosing of the switch W but'by this time` independently controlled apparatus in the line L causes an opening of the circuit at another point. Thus, al though the switch W is closed to potentially restart the motor M,Y the circuit L is open. Restarting is effected by said other means inthe line and is not described herein because it does not form a part of the invention herein claimed. Y.When alternation takes place, the supply of high pressure grease is at once cut off from the Vrespective passages .93.and 95, and counterbore region 97.

Thus the valve 131, under the influence of spring 127, at once seats. Withgseate ing of the valve, pin 121 moves downwardly, blocking off bore. 149 but opening bore 151 (the position as shown in Fig. 3). Thus, grease in the counterbore 69 (Fig. 5) can flow back vthrough passage 159, annularV space 147, bore 151, notch 128, and passages 153 into the annular space provided by counterbore 197and thence through bore 161, bore 153, bore `165, check valveV 189,

y' and Vbore 195 to `exhaust pipe 15, thus relieving the pressure. Grease trapped in bore 103 passes through annular space 155 into annular space 147, and-thence to the exhaust pipeY 15 in the manner described. The Aannular space V155 is 'narrow enough to permit slow exhausting of grease in the manner described, but too narrow to pass enoughgrease to interfere with the positive movement of the piston element 75. If the annular space VV155 were not provided, pressure might be trapped in the space 103 so as to reduce' passage 87), the notch,79 is preferably Vmade a little longer than the distance between the closreferred to is, dissipated est edges 'of passages 85 and 87, so that ity is, at

all times, necessarilyin communication with one of said-passages.

It will be noted thatY the passages v `and 164 are checked against rflow from horizontal bore by check valve discs 189. These check valves prevent the surge engendered by the release of high `pressures inthe respective lines 9 and 11 frombeing improperly delivered to the end of the valve` stem 75. They prevent the valve stem 75 from being balanced after partial movement by pressure at each kend createdA by surge when relieving the respective lines 9 or 11 of pressure.

Thus these respective check, valves eachfprotect one end of the valve stem from being sub-Y jected tothe surgeV or exhaust pressure while the other end is being acted on by pressure shunted from the lines 9 or llhunder pressure.

As to the check valve 169, it will be noted that itV has no counterpart in the passage 164, because the passage 164 does notr communicate with any line suchV as 19r` As will be remembered, the line 19 communicates baci; pressure to the pressureswitch which controlstheoperation` of a compressor for .delivering greaseto the inlet line 23. The check valve 169 prevents pressure of trapped grease. Which is exhausting from behind the valve stem 75 on the left-hand side of the Fig. 5 from reaching passage jets 173 and 19, ,saidreturning grease being delivered rthrough theleft-hand check valve '1891 to the line 15. Y f.

While the device hasY been herein described in connection with the handling of lubricants, particularly grease,fit will be apparent that other fluids might also be handled without departing from the eld of-the invention.

In View of the above, itV will beV seen thatl the severalobjects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results-attained.

As many changes could be made in carrying out the above constructions Without departing from the scope of the invention,'it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown'in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative nand not in a limiting sense. 1

1.,In apparatus of theclass described, a pressure switch, a body havingan inlet, compression means for supplying fluid to the inlet, said body also having a plurality of outlets as well as a plu-V rality of exhausts anda pressure switch connection, thepressure switch when operated causing said compression means to discontinue supplying fluid to the inlet, a movable distributing Yvalve s in said body adapted in alternate positions to connect the inlet with one outletvwhile independ-v ently connecting the other outlet to one of said exhausts thereby to effect inlet and exhaust positions for opposite ends thereof, resistance valves associatedV with said outletsadapted to assume open androlosed positions, means connecting said outlets With opposed areas on the distributing valve whereby movement ofthe distributing valve is `effected under outlet pressure when the respecy tive resistance valves are open, means connecting said distributing'valve areas to the respective exhausts when said ,resistance valves are outlets with the pressure switch connection when said distributing valve is in exhaust position to connect the last-named outlet to the last-named exhaust, there being a surge in pressure in the pressure switch upon said connection, the surge in pressure operating the pressure switch.

2. In apparatus of the class'described, a pressure switch, a body having an inlet, compression means for supplying fluid to the inlet, said body also having a plurality of outlets as well as a plurality of exhausts and a pressure switch ccnnection, the pressure switch when operated causing said compression means to discontinue supplying fluid to the inlet, a movable distributing valve in said body adapted in alternate positions to connect the inlet with one outlet while independently connecting the other outlet to one of said exhausts thereby to eiect inlet and exhaust positions for opposite ends thereof, resistance valves asociated with said outlets adapted to assume open and closed positions, means connecting said outlets with opposed areas on the distributing valve whereby movement or" the distributing valve is etected under outlet pressure when the respective resistance valves are open, means connecting said distributing valve areas to the respective exhausts when said resistance valves are closed, a throttle connection opening from said switch connection to one of said exhausts, and a port on said distributing valve adapted in one position of said distributing valve to connect one of said outlets with the pressure switch connection when said distributing valve is in exhaust position tc connect the last-named outlet to the last-named exhaust, there being a surge in pressure in the pressure switch upon said connection, the surge in pressure operating said switch.

3. In apparatus of the class described, a body having an inlet, compression means for supplying luid to the inlet, said body also having a plurality of outlets as well as a plurality of respective exhausts and a pressure switch connection, a pressure switch when operated causing said compression means to discontinue supplying uid to the inlet, a movable distributing valve in said body adapted in alternate positions tov alternately connect the inlet with the respective outlets while independently connecting the other respectiveoutlets with respective exhausts thereby to effest inlet and exhaust positions for opposite ends thereof, resistance valves associated with said outlets adapted to assume closed positions against certain outlet pressures and open positions against greater outlet pressures, means connecting said respective outlets with opposed areas on the distributing valve whereby movement of the distributing valve is effected to close the outlet receiving pressure when the respecdve resistance valve is open, means connecting said distributing Y 4. Apparatus made 'in accordance with claim' Sand including regulating means for said resistance valves adapted to determine the outlet pressures at which the respective valves shall open.

5. Apparatus made in accordance with claim 3 and including means for independently regulating the resistance of said resistance valves, to control the respective pressures in the respective outlets at which said respective resistance valvesV shall open.

6. Apparatus made in accordance with claim 3 and including at least one regulating meansrfor determining the pressure at which at least one ofl said resistance valves shall open. Y

ALEXANDER P. FOX. 

